MTA trims monthly meetings, adds interactive forums

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will reduce the number of regular monthly meetings to eight from 11 next year, but add two new interactive sessions with the public.

Judy Rife

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will reduce the number of regular monthly meetings to eight from 11 next year, but add two new interactive sessions with the public.

"The changes are aimed at making more efficient use of the time and resources of board members and staff," said Aaron Donovan, a spokesman for the MTA.

The most significant change is the addition of "chairman's forums," at which the MTA's chairman and CEO, and the presidents of its four operating subsidiaries — Metro-North Railroad, New York City Transit, MTA Bridges & Tunnels and Long Island Railroad — will engage in a dialogue with the public.

Joe Lhota, the MTA's outgoing chairman, proposed the forums in September to increase public accessibility and accountability at a sprawling authority that has a $13 billion budget, 60,000 employees and 8.5 million customers.

The board affirmed its intent to adhere to the new schedule at its Dec. 19 meeting despite Lhota's departure. Fernando Ferrer, the board's vice chairman and former Bronx borough president, will serve as acting chairman until Gov. Andrew Cuomo appoints a successor. Lhota resigned Dec. 31 to consider a run for New York City mayor.

Donovan said these interactive sessions will allow for the kind of discussion that is missing from the traditional comment period at meetings, where the board simply listens to whatever people want to say about MTA services.

The plan to reduce the number of meetings has gotten a cautious reception from the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, which campaigned successfully in the 1980s to get public comment periods added to board and committee meetings.

"It's important that the public have this access to the board, but these public speaking sessions are equally important for board members to hear from the riders," said Bill Henderson, executive director of the PCAC.

Henderson, however, acknowledged that the present system has its limitations, and offered to work with the MTA to ensure the changes improve transparency and accountability.

The full board's monthly meetings will continue to be held on Wednesdays, but at 10 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m., and committees will continue to meet on preceding Mondays. All meetings will continue to offer the public an opportunity to speak.

Full board meetings are now scheduled for Jan. 30, March 13, April 24, June 5, July 24, Sept. 18, Nov. 13 and Dec. 18. The dates for the chairman's forums have not yet been set.